Illuminated sign



ILLUMINATED S IGN Filed Dec. 5, 1934 Patented Aug. 4, 1936 PATENT OFFICE Application December 5, 1934, Serial No. 756,150

7 In Great Britain August 28, 1933 3 Claims.

This invention relates to illuminated signs of the kind in which the display matter is cut, etched, sand-blasted, painted or otherwise formed or arranged in or on glass or other transparent material so as to be illuminated by light from neon or other luminous electric discharge tubes which are comprised in the sign.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction and arrangement of such signs so as to considerably increase the attractiveness thereof.

According to this invention, in an illuminated sign of the kind referred to, neon or other luminous electric discharge tubes are positioned at the rear surface of a glass or other transparent panel adjacent to or in register with grooves either comprised in or spaced from the display matter, which is sand-blasted or otherwise formed in or arranged upon one or both faces of the panel so as to obtain an effective luminous display by diffusion and reflection of light derived from the neon tubes or like sources of illumination.

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein similar references indicate like parts.

Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively front and vertical sectional views illustrating one construction of neon hanging sign in accordance with the present invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively rear and vertical sectional views, and Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmental perspective views further illustrating details of construction and arrangement of neon signs in accordance with the present invention.

As illustrated at Figs. 1 and 2 the sign comprises a polished glass panel I, on'the rear face 2 of which display matter indicated by the lettering in such figures is etched, sand blasted or otherwise conveniently formed together with three parallel grooves 3, the display matter being illuminated by neon or like luminous electric discharge tubes 4 arranged behind the panel I in register with but outside the grooves 3 so that the light from the tubes enters the glass panel through the sides of the groove and indirectly illuminates the display matter by internal refiection.

The glass panel is mounted in a frame that comprises an overhead box-like support a which serves to house the electrodes &c. of the luminous tubes 4, which latter are interconnected with each other and with their electrodes by connecting tubes 5 or in any other convenient manner.

The grooves 3 are of larger radius than the luminous tubes l, the margins of the grooves being etched or sand-blasted as indicated at 311 Fig. 5 to form a luminous shading, while to facilitate correct mounting of the tubes inrelation to the grooves the grooved rear face 2 of the panel I is backed with a cover plate 6 of thin glass, as indicated at Figs. 2 and 5, which cover plate may be cemented or otherwise secured to the panel I, while the luminous tubes 4 are conplay matter so that the latter is directly illumi- 2O nated by the light from the tubes 4.

The tube 4 is secured by metal clips I as previously described, while to facilitate correct mounting of the tube to its counterpart groove, the latter is formed with transverse divisions or bridge pieces 31) as indicated at Figs. 3, 4 and 6 which serve as abutments for the luminous tube 4.

If preferred, however, the groove 3 may be made continuous and be covered with a thin backing plate 6 of glass or other transparent material, upon which backing the luminous tube 4 is arranged, as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 5.

I claim:

1. A sign comprising a transparent panel having display matter comprising grooves formed in its rear surface, said grooves having division pieces arranged flush with the rear surface of the panel, and a luminous electric discharge tube positioned upon said division pieces at the rear surface of the panel externally of and in register with said grooves.

2. A sign comprising a transparent panel having display matter comprising grooves cut in its rear surface, a relatively thin transparent covering on said rear surface, and a luminous electric discharge tube supported upon the rear surface of such covering externally of and in register with the said grooves.

3. A sign comprising a transparent panel wherein the display matter comprises grooves formed in its rear surface and formed with frosted margins adjacent the grooves, a luminous electric discharge tube positioned at the rear surface of the panel externally of and in register with said grooves, and means for supporting said luminous tube externally of said grooves.

AUGUSTE HARRY BRACKENSEY. 

